A friend of mine is opening a Pinball “museum” in Orange County, California called Pinball Forever.

Most people think pinball is fun, of course, and indeed it is very fun, but I’m posting this on TC because pinball machines are also very beautiful. A great deal of art and design go into them. If you are interested in vintage mid-century pop art from the 50’s and 60’s, and also in seeing how the styles change in later years, you will find this entertaining. My friend is very knowledgeable about pinball, its history, and about the artists who created the machines, and he does a great presentation. I highly recommend it.

For now, Pinball Forever is open for timed and ticketed events. While you're there you can follow the presentation if you want or you can go off on your own. All the machines are free play. You can play whatever you want during your visit. See their web site for current information.

$25 to play pinball for 2 hours at a timed event? Seems like a lot of rules and kind of expensive just to play pinball for 2 hours. How many people are that hard-core into pinball to support a place like this?

On 2012-05-08 20:39, kenbo-jitsu wrote:Well, that's something my friend is trying to figure out I guess. As a comparison, a 90 minute 3D IMAX film costs $19 at a nearby theater.

Not really a comparison, Since a 90 minute 3D IMAX film cost Millions of dollars to produce (Typically 40 to 70 Million)
not to mention the cost of building an IMAX theater, Just how many vintage Pinball machines are at Pinball Forever?

The sad truth is video games have replaced any mainstream apeal that Pinball once had, Good Luck getting enough
customers to support it, But I wish him the best of luck.

So, I just came from one of the preview sessions at Pinball Forever (Pf). I'll address some of the earlier posts and if you have any questions, hit me up. The only other pinball museum I have been to is the one in Las Vegas so I will make some comparisons. First off, while it has fewer games than Las Vegas, the dynamic at PF is better suited for people who have a passion for retro and pinball. In LV, there are a lot of games but they are haphazardly arranged and it is more like a large arcade with a bunch of old stuff, some working some not, but it is still a lot of fun. At PF the machines are arranged by era and the owners provide a guided tour which includes history of artwork, game features and inventions plus other commentary. The tour is optional so you can choose to spend your 2 hours playing or take a few minutes and get educated and then go play. With regards to the price, I can think of other things that I pay $25 for 2 hours and walk away with not much- a movie/popcorn/drink, 1/2 an Angels game, 1.5 races at K-1 go carting,... In that respect, the price is reasonable. After each 2 hour session, the owners have to repair several games, maintain the rest of the building and get ready for the next group. It is not the type of business that you have a high school kids run while you are an absentee owner. My thoughts are that a portion of the fee is my donation to future generations so that cool stuff will continue to be around and not forgotten. I already have told my son that he and I will make a trip down there in a few weeks (took the wife this time). I plan to spread the word to my friends as well. I found PF valuable because I do not belong to a pinball club, but am looking to buy my 3rd machine for home use. Seeing and playing all of these games gave me a better idea of what I am going to look for next. That's it in a nutshell. I had a good time. Tim

Tim, it looks like you are more hard-core into pinball than the average person, since you already own several machines at home. It sounds like going to the museum is research into which machine you will buy next.

I'd pay $25 to play that Kiss pinball machine for 2 hours!
Used to spend about that much of my paper route money on that danged machine
at the jolly Jester in Danville Illinois years ago!
Are we allowed to take pictures?
Cause i really geek out on the stencilled side graphics and main lighted panels!
A lil bit pricey for this day and age,but where else are you going to find
so many machines to play
that are maintained well
in a clean environment
with no kids running around
or some person hogging your favorite machine?
Wishing much success to this endeavor!
_________________www.kinnyruzic.com Art Blogs Wishes Fulfilled!
I'm on Facebook too! under my real name Ken Ruzic
Yeeeeeeeah!

I am definitely not hardcore when it comes to anything. It is like cars and car shows to me, I enjoy looking and being in the atmosphere, but I don't want to do it all the time and let it consume me. I have a couple of machines, one at my work and one in the garage at home. I have a large family room and would like to get a third machine for there. I work a lot of hours, so when I have a lull at the shop, I play a few games. The neighbors come over once in awhile and we play some games in the garage. I don't belong to a pinball club, those guys are hardcore and have a ton of machines.

I discovered this thread on google, and am pleased to be mentioned here (thanks to the op!)
As a thank-you, I set up the code "tiki" on the tickets link from pinballforever.com for half-off tickets this weekend and next (makes it $12.50 for two hours unlimited play).

We offer convenient stepstools for the height-challenged:

Though he says it's more fun to play with friends!

BTW, when I bought my Tiki from Oceanic Arts a number of years ago, I was honored to meet Mr. Schmaltz--he couldn't have been a nicer guy! My Tiki now has the pinball machine he most wished for...but he's happy to share!

The guided presentation at Pinball Forever was a highlight for me. I learned a lot. For example, did you know that through most of their history, pinball machines walked a fine line between being considered amusement and being considered gambling? You will see pointed out many features incorporated into machines in an effort to influence on which side of that line things would fall. Pinball machines were actually illegal in many parts of the country (!!), in some cases until surprisingly recent times. I was completely unaware of these gambling origins and I found it quite interesting. Ask about it if it’s not brought up.

No, I've not seen it. I HAVE been to the one in Las Vegas someone mentioned in an earlier post. As far as I know, that and Pinball Forever are all we have in the Southern CA area, if you even consider Las Vegas the Southern CA area. I suppose the AAA guide books do.